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Distributed sensor system coupled with a plurality of secondary sensorsRelated Patent Categories: Optical Waveguides, Optical Waveguide SensorDistributed sensor system coupled with a plurality of secondary sensors description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060239603, Distributed sensor system coupled with a plurality of secondary sensors. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/674267, filed Apr. 22, 2005. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to an intrusion detection system that identifies location of intrusion over a volumetric zone. In particular, the invention relates to a distributed sensor system coupled with a plurality of secondary sensors deployed over a zone of detection, where activities or intrusions are monitored. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Intrusion detection system provides information about intrusion or an event into a protected area or facility. Advanced detection system discreetly detects modest physical disturbances, and detects the location of the disturbance. Prior arts teach various distributed sensor technologies for detection and location of intrusion. [0006] One of the available technologies is based on fiber optics, where physical disturbance alters attribute of light along an optical fiber, and the effect of the alteration is detected at the end of the optical fiber. British Patent No. 1,497,995 describes a fiber optic acoustic monitoring arrangement. U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,208 describes a distributed fiber optic sensing system for detecting mechanical, acoustic, or ultrasonic disturbances. U.S. Pat. No. 5,194,847 discloses apparatus and method for fiber optic intrusion sensing, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,813,403 describes a method for monitoring of large structure using Brillouin spectrum analysis to measure strain, displacement, temperature or other physical quantities at any location along an optical fiber attached to a structure. Our PCT application No. PCT/US05/11045 filed on Apr. 1, 2005 describes phase responsive optical fiber sensor to locate and detect an intrusion. [0007] Another available technology for sensing other than fiber optics is described in, for an example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,446. These technologies have been used to create line sensors, referred to as sensor cables, transducer cables, or acoustic cables. Electrical signals or electromagnetic signals transmit along the cables mentioned above to detect intrusion. U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,446 describes intrusion detection system, where a radio frequency pulse is transmitted down the sensor cable, and the resulting received signals are processed to detect and precisely locate intruder-caused disturbances. [0008] The distributed sensor forms a loop or a line to detect intrusion into the protected area, or is installed along side of a system that needs to be protected such as communication data link or pipeline. It is often necessary to extend the detection range to protect an area more securely or to collect additional information of intrusion that a distributed sensor would not provide. Existing distributed sensor system requires physical intrusion on the distributed sensor to detect the intrusion and to generate an alarm. Present invention provides an intrusion detection system that volumetrically extends the sensing range by employing a plurality of secondary sensors that is coupled with a distributed sensor system. An intrusion into the vicinity of the distributed sensor could be detected without physical intrusion on the distributed sensor by deploying secondary sensors in the vicinity of the distributed sensor. Present invention also extends the sensing capability in the form of information. Various forms of information could be obtained by employing various types of secondary sensors into the present invention. [0009] The present invention described hereafter provides an intrusion detection system that effectively extends the range of detection, capable of locating an event over an extended volumetric zone, by employing a plurality of secondary sensors coupled to a distributed sensor system. Secondary sensors detect intrusion or other activities that are to be monitored. Physically disturbing devices are employed as connecting means between the secondary sensors and the distributed sensor, and are installed along the distributed sensor in the manner that could generate physical disturbance that properly disturbs the distributed sensor. Upon detecting intrusions, secondary sensors send signals to physically disturbing devices, and physically disturbing devices are operated to produce disturbed signals. The distributed sensor system detects and analyses the disturbed signals to identify the intrusion. [0010] There are examples of physically disturbing devices in prior arts. U.S. Pat. No 5,355,208 discloses mechanical disturbing means, affixed to the fiber of a fiber optic sensor, for indicating system operability by deliberately agitating the fiber under control from a central system control station, and sound emitting means, carried on the person of an authorized individual, for transmitting a unique coded signal which is effectively to disturb the fiber optic sensor. The mechanical disturbing means and sound emitting means in the prior art are examples of physically disturbing devices that disturb the fiber of the fiber optic sensor that is a type of distributed sensor. U.S. Pat. No. 6,346,985 discloses a plurality of optical interferometers coupled to optical fibers and a plurality of electromechanical sensor arrays that are arranged to produce electrical signals in response to changes in a physical parameters being monitored, and are connected to one of the plurality of optical interferometers that produce phase difference signals in response to electrical signals produced by the electromechanical sensor arrays. Electromechanical sensor connected to an optical interferometer in the prior art is an example of a secondary sensor that is coupled to a device that could generate optically disturbed signals. In the present invention, distributed sensor is not only a transmitting means of optical or electrical signal, but also a sensor that could detect disturbances caused by intrusions. Physically disturbing devices employed in the present invention are required to be coupled with secondary sensors, capable of processing the signal sent from the secondary sensors. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] The present invention is an intrusion detection system comprising a distributed sensor, physically disturbing devices coupled with said distributed sensor, and a plurality of secondary sensors that are deployed over a zone of detection and coupled with said physically disturbing devices by the means of wired or wireless link. [0012] The distributed sensor detects physical disturbance caused by intrusion. The distributed sensor detects mechanical, acoustic, or physical intrusion along its length distributed to protect an area. Advanced distributed sensor systems are capable of locating an event, while other types of distributed sensors only detect disturbance triggered by an intrusion. A distributed sensor employed in the present invention is not limited to a specific type of a distributed sensor, but it is necessary that the distributed sensor system has a capability to detect and to identify a physical disturbance caused by an intrusion. [0013] The physically disturbing devices are coupled to the distributed sensor in a manner that physical disturbances produced by the physically disturbing devices properly disturb the distributed sensor, generating a disturbed signal along said distributed sensor so that the control station of said distributed sensor detect and further process the disturbed signals to determine locations of the physical disturbances. Said physically disturbing device is a mechanical vibrator, sound emitting means, thermal generator, or any type of means that produce physical disturbances that are properly and noticeably disturbing said distributed sensor. [0014] The plurality of secondary sensors consists of a single or various types of sensors that are deployed over a zone of detection to monitor intrusion or other activities that are required to be detected. The secondary sensors provide the distributed sensor system with additional information, volumetrically extending the sensing area from that of the distributed sensor system. The plurality of secondary sensors in the present invention employs at least one secondary sensor. The plurality of secondary sensors is couple to the physically disturbing devices. Upon detecting an event, the secondary sensors send a signal to an associated physically disturbing device, operating the physically disturbing devices to properly disturb the distributed sensor. Each of the plurality of secondary sensors is coupled with at least one physically disturbing device. A sensor of said a plurality of secondary sensors is a motion sensing device, light sensing device, laser sensing device, or any type of sensing means that is designed for the purpose of monitoring the zone and is design to produce a signal as a result of sensing. The plurality of secondary sensors is coupled to physically disturbing devices by the means of a wired link or a wireless link [0015] The purpose of the present invention is to volumetrically extend the sensing range and to improve sensing resolution by employing the plurality of secondary sensors. The system described in the present invention does not require multiple processing units to extend the detection area. One control station of the distributed sensor system manipulates information that is collected by the distributed sensor and the secondary sensors. Employing secondary sensors provides security personnel with flexibility in managing the security activity. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of intrusion detection system with a distributed sensor system, physically disturbing devices, and a plurality of secondary sensors. [0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a physically disturbing device coupled with a secondary sensor through wireless link. The secondary sensor is self-powered. [0018] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a physically disturbing device coupled with a secondary sensor through a wireless link, but power is supplied from main power station. [0019] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a physically disturbing device coupled with a secondary sensor through a wired link, but the secondary sensor is self-powered. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Continue reading about Distributed sensor system coupled with a plurality of secondary sensors... 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